Continuous wire winding apparatus



March 22, 1950 J. N. DETRICK ETA].

CONTINUOUS WIRE WINDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1March 22, 1960 J. N. DETRICK ET AL 2 commuous WIRE WINDING APPARATUSFiled Feb. '26, 1957 4 SheetsSheet 2 7%? w new 5 4770302 7 March 22,1960 J. N. DETRICK ET AL 2,929,569

CONTINUOUS WIRE WINDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb 26, 1957March 22, 1960 J. N. DETRICK ET AL 2, 2

commuous WIRE WINDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1957WTTOPAZY United States Patent "CSNTINUGUS WIRE 'WINBENG APPARATUS EndscnN. Patrick, Oak Parlr, -Carl R. Hoffman, Riverside, and Lester W.Malzahn, Maywood, Ill., assignors toivestern Electric mpany,Incorporated, New York, NFL, a corporation of New York ApplicationFehrnary 26,1957, Serial "No. 642,508

14 Ciaims. (Cl. 242 2s This invention relates to continuous Wire windingapparatus, and more particularly to a'continuous winding apparatushaving facilities for automatically switching the wire being wound froma full takeup reelto an empty takeup reel without interrupting the feed.

In installations for automatically fabricating wires, it is necessaryfor continuous operation to transfer wire from a full takeup reel orspool to an empty takeup reel or spool. In use of such installations,the full takeup reel is stopped and removed and then replaced by anempty reel. Prior to the transfer operation, it is necessary to bringthe speed of the empty reel up to the speed of the full reel in order toeliminate any accumulation of slack wire. The wire is then transferredto an empty reel by use of so-called snagger plates having engageableelements rotatable with each reel. As the reels synchronously rotate andthe wire is engaged by both snagger plates, the wire is advanced pastthe severing device. These snagger plates have a diameter which exceedsthat of the diameter of the wire wound on the full reel; consequently,the linear speed of the wire during transfer exceeds the peripheralspeed of the core of the empty reel. If the transfer is to beeffectively'accomplished without laying loose convolutions of wire onthe empty reel, it is necessary that some means be provided to increasethe rotative speed of the empty reel at the time of transfer.

An object of the invention is'to provide new and improved electricalcontrol facilities for automatic reeling installations wherein reels aresuccessively wound with wire without interrupting the operations of anyof the devices or machines employed to fabricate the wire.

Another object of this invention resides in a continuthe switchingfacilities to further speed up the reel to such an extent that theperipheral speed of theco're equals or exceeds that of the speed of thewire being wound. This feature eliminates any possibility of the wirenot being properly picked up and wound on the empty reel.

Other objects and-advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a side elevationalview of an installation for continuously winding wire on reels embodyingthe principal features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view, looking in the directions indicated by the arrows-2-2 in Fig. l, of a wire distributor and a number of limit switches forcontrolling the operation of thedistributor;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, of anaccumulator for taking up slack in wire together with a regulating meanscontrolled thereby;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view-taken along lines 4-4 of Pi". of Fig. 1looking in the direction indicated by the arrows showing a pair of redsthat may be successively wound with wire in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 when assembled in the manner illustrated in Fig. '8depict a control circuit for eliectuating a uniform feed of the wire, atransfer of the wire from a full reel to an empty reel and a control ofdistribution of the wire'on the reels.

Referring to Fig. 1, wire or other strand material 10 that may be coatedor uncoated is advanced around a pair of capstansil and 12 from afabricating device (not shown) that may function to form, coat orvulcanize the wire. The capstans i1 and 12 are positively driven throughsuitable belts or gearing from a constantly rotating motor .13. Motor 13is also effective to drive a tachometer generator 14 that functions toexercise control of the speed of operation of the other componentsincluded in the wire takeup-equipment.

ous wire takeup device having an electrical control circuit forautomatically transferring wire from a full reel to an empty reelwithout any abrupt change in the speed of the wire advanced through thevarious component equipments.

A further object of the invention is the provision of magneticallycontrolled clutches for regulating the speed Within finite limits ofvarious wire feed and distributing components in a wire windinginstallation.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplatesa Wire winding installation having facilities for transferring wire froma full reel to an empty reel. Wire is advanced by means of a positivelydriven capstan to an accumulator and from there to a distributor thatfunctions to distribute the wire on a positively driven reel. A controlcircuit under theconjoint regulation of the capstan, the accumulator andthe positively driven reel assures that the Wire is wound under uniformtension.

Switching facilities under the control of an electric counter areprovided to transfer the wire from a full reel to an empty reel Withoutinterrupting the advance of the wire. Selective drive means actuated bythe counter in conjunction with the control circuit are provided toinitially accelerene an empty reel to a speed equal to that of the fullreel at the time of switching. Speed compensating means are renderedeffective upon actuation of Wire 19 is advanced around a guide roller 16to an accumulator consisting of a rotatably mounted sheave 1'7 and adancer sheave 18 that is rotatably'mounted on a slide block 19. The wireis wrapped to provide several turns around the sheaves '17 and 18, andupon any slack existing in the wire, the dancer sheave 18 will movedownwardly. In a likemanner, if excessive tension exists in the wirethen the dancer sheave 18 will move upwardly. Referring to Fig. 3, itwill be noted that the slide block 39 is connected to a chain drivendevice 20 that in turn is adapted to control a rheostat 21. Thisrheostat is designed to further control the funcioning of the wiretakeup device to insure that the takeup device maintains a uniformtension in the'wire being reeled.

The wire 10 is next advanced around a spring-biased tensioning devicegenerally depicted by the reference numeral 22 and over a guide roller23 to a distributor device generally denoted by the reference numeral24. The distributor comprises a guide sheave 26 that is rotatablymounted on a tubular member 27 mounted for slidable movement along aguide rod 28. Member 27 is connected to apiston rod 29 that in turn iscontrolled by a pneumatic cylinder 31 having intake lines 32 and 33running thereto.

Looking at Fig. 4, there is shown a pair of reels 34 and 36 mountedreleasably on shafts 37 and 38. Each of these shafts 37 and 38 isconnected to drive one of a pair of tachometer generators 39 and 41 thatfunction to govern the speed of the drive mechanism .for the reels. Thisdrive mechanism consists of belt drives 42 and 43 that are driventhrough a .pairofmagnetic clutches by a pair of constant speed motors,one of which is Patented Mar. 22, 1960 designated by the referencenumeral 45 in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

Mounted on shafts 37 and 38 and positionedin frictional engagement withthe side plates of the reels 34 'and'36 facing each other are a pair ofsnagger-plates 44 and 46 that are adapted to engage the wire withinhooklike projections 47 whenever the distributor sheave 26 moves totransfer the wire from afull reel to an empty reel. Positioned betweenthe respective snagger plates 44 and 46 is a severing-knife 49 adaptedto sever the .wire whenever the snagger pla es engage and advance thewire during a transfer operation. I 7

Connected to the piston rod 29 is a switch actuator 51 having its upperextremity (see Fig. 2) positioned to actuate a pair of switches 52 and53 that function to cont'rol'the application of air to the intake lines32 and 33, and thereby control the reciprocation of the distributor -24to uniformly lay the convolutions of wire on the reel 36. The lowerextremity of the actuator is adapted to operate a limit switch 54 thatfunctions together with a switch 55 to set up a control circuit toeffectuate a switching of the distributor from a position to guide wireonto the reel 36 to a position wherein the distributor will guide wireonto the newlypositioned empty reel 34. Upon operation of the transfercontrol circuit, the actuator 51 is shifted toward the left, as viewedin Fig. 2, so that the upper extremity will reciprocate between a pairof limit switches 56 and 57. In this instance the limit switches 56 and57 function to control the application of air to the lines 32 and 33 insuch a manner that the distributor 24 is reciprocated to guide the wireontothe positively driven takeup reel 34. With the distributor 24 inthis position, a switch 58 is cyclically operated to condition, inconjunction with switch '55, the control circuit for effectuating atransfer of the distributor 24 toward the right and into position toguide wire onto an empty reel 36. The initiation of the transfer of thedistributor from one winding position to another is under the control ofan electric counter that functions to effectuate the operation of theswitching circuit whenever a reel is fully loaded with wound wire. a i

Considering now the operation of the apparatus and the I particularmeans utilized to effectuate a transfer of wire from a full reel toanempty reel, attention is directed to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 wherein therelay circuits shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are utilized first to control.thereciprocation of the distributor 24 to guide wire onto a reel, and.secondly to control the transferof the distributor from a reel woundwith a predetermined amount of wire to an empty reel. In Fig. 7, thecircuit enclosed by the dash lines and generally referenced by thenumber 75 is utilized to control the transmission of rotativepower tothe shaft 37 on which is mounted the reel34; whereas, the circuitenclosed with the dash line box designated by the reference numeral 76is the control for the transmission'of motion to the shaft 38 and reel36. Control of the pressure in the airlines 32 and 33 and'hence the'speed of reciprocation of the distributor24 is attained by use of thecircuit enclosed within the dash line box generally depicted by thenumeral 77.

These circuits 75, 76 and 77 depend for the exercise of control upon theregulation of the amount of current supplied to coils 78, 79 and 81,respectively, that are included as control components in magneticclutches. These clutches are respectively interposed between thelefthand takeup reel motor 45, a pump motor 83, a righthand takeup motor84, and the means for applying power tothe shaft 37, the air pump (notshown) and the shaft 38.

To obtain control of the current flow through the coils 78, 79 and 81,thyratron tubes 86, 87 and 88 are pro- ,vided, and function to act asrectifier elements for controlling the application of current from theAC. power sources 80, 85 and 90 to the coils. By varying the peri- (5dof conduction of the thyratrons, it is possible to vary the totalamount-of current passed through the coils, and control the magneticfields of the coils; and consequently, determine the amount of torquetransmitted by the clutches. Control of the period of conduction ofthyratron 86 is obtained by means of the energy supplied through a pairof transformers 91 and 92, whereas the periods of conduction of thethyratrons 87 and 88 is controlled respectively by a pair oftransformers 93 and 94 and a pair of transformers 96 and 97. Thetransformer 93 is controlled by a tachometer generator driven by thepump motor 83.

For purposes of iilustration, assume that the lefthand reel 34 is tobewound with wire and that the distributor is positioned to close limitswitch 56 (see Fig. 6). In this position, the switch 55 (Fig. 5) ismoved into position to engage an upper contact 98. The depression of astart button 101 completes an obviousenergizing circuit for a relay 102which draws up a series of contacts to energize the motor 13. It will berecalled that this motor,13 imparts rotation to the capstans 11 and 12;Simultaneously therewith contacts 103 are also closed torespectively'energize the motors 45, 83 and 84. Relay 102 also closescontacts 104 to supply battery to the relay circuits shown in Figs. 5and 6. With the switch 55 energizing upper contact 98, an energizingcircuit for a relay 106 is completed that draws up contacts 107 tocomplete a circuit running from the transformer 92 to the tachometergenerator 14 driven by the capstan motor 13. Relay 106'also draws upcontacts .108 to complete a circuit through normally closed contacts 109to a relay 111 that locks through contacts 112. Closure of contacts 104also energizes a time delay relay which after a delay closes contacts110 to energize a relay 115. Energization of relay opens contacts 109and 120. The opening of contacts 109 interrupts the initial energizingcircuit for the relay 111 but relay 111 is now held energized throughits contacts 112. 'Relay 111 closes contacts 113 '(Fig. 7) to completean energizing circuit fora relay 114 that functions to close contacts116 contained in the anode circuit of the thyratron 86. 'Energy is nowpermitted to be transmitted from the tachometer generator 14 as modifiedby the rheostat 21,controlled by the accumulator 20, through thetransformer 92 to control'the actuation of the thyratron 86. Duringperiods of-oonduction of the thyratron, current is passed through theclutch coil 78 and the shaft 37 is permitted to rotate. As the shaft 37rotates, the tachometer generator 39 is operated to impress energythrough contacts 117 drawn up by the energization of relay 106 to thetransformer 94. 'Output from the transformer 94 is employed to controlthe period of operation of thyratron 87. When thyratron 87 operates, thecoil 79' is energized to effectuate operation of a pump for controllingthe air pressure running to the lines 32 and 33. It will be noted thatas the lefthand reel speeds up, the tachometer generator 39 will supplyan increased amount of energy to the transformer 94 thus increasing theperiod of energization of the coil 79, andthereby increases the airpressure supplied to the line 32 and 33 which in turn controls'the speedof operation of the distributor 24. '3

At the start of operation the distributor'24 was positioned to close theswitch '56; consequently, an energizing circuit is completed throughnormally closed contacts 118 to a solenoid119; This solenoid 119 opens avalve contained in the air line 32.1 The admission of air in the line 32causes piston rod 29 and the distributor 24 to move toward the right asviewed in Fig. 2. When the actuator 51 closes the switch 57, a circuitis completed through normally closed contacts 121 to energize a solenoid122. This solenoid opens a yalve contained in the air line 33=therebypermitting the air in the cylinder 31 to move the piston, rod 29 and thedistributor24 toward thel'eft, M

Wire is wound on the reel 34 and is measured by an electric countergenerally designated by the reference nu meral 123 in Fig. 5. Theeiectric counter is set so'tha't when a predetermined amonnt of wire iswound on the reel 34 contacts 124 are closed to complete an energizingcircuit through normally closed contacts 126 for a relay 127. Relay 127locks through contacts 128 and draws up contacts 129, 131 and 132.Closure of contacts 131 creates an energizing circuit through normallyclosed contacts 133 and 134 to a relay 136. Relay 136 draws up contacts137 (see Fig. 7) to complete an energizing circuit for a relay 138.Energization of relay 138 closes contacts 139 to connect the thyratron88 to the clutch coil 81. Energization of relay 136 also closes contacts141 (see also Fig. 7) to connect the transformer 97 to the output fromthe tachometer generator 39. Energy is transferred from the transformers96 and 97 to cyclically control the operation of thyratron 88 andthereby supply energy to the coil 81. Energization of coil 81 permitsthe transmission of power from the motor 84 to the shaft 38 to therebyinitiate rotation of the reel 36. The speed of the reel 36 is brought upto the speed of the reel 34 through the instrumentality of the controlexercised by the tachometer generator 39 on .the transformer 97.

Upon the counter 123 metering a predetermined amount of wire indicativeof a full reel, the counter functions to close contacts 143 to completean obvious energizing circuit through now closed contacts 128 for arelay 144. As the distributor moves over the center portion of the reel34, the switch 58 (Fig. 6) is closed to energize a relay 146 thatfunctions to draw up contacts 147. Energization of relay 144 closescontacts 148 to complete an energizing circuit for a relay 149 that islocked in through contacts 158. Relay 149 draws up contacts 151 toinitiate operation of a timer relay 152 and also closes contacts 153(Fig. 6). CIosure of contacts 153 completes an energizing circuitthrough normally closed contacts 154 to a solenoid 156 that functions toopen a high pressure valve (not shown) contained in the air line 32. Theadmission of high pressure air causes the distributor 24 to be movedrapidly toward the right and into register with the empty reel 36. Thishigh pressure air overcomes the normal effect of the air admitted tocylinder 31 to control the reciprocation of the distributor during thewinding of the wire on the reel. Closure of contacts 153 is alsoeffective to complete an energizing circuit through normally closedcontacts 154 and 158 to a relay 159. Energization of relay 159 draws upcontacts 160 to complete a locking circuit for the solenoid 156. Relay159 also opens contacts 161 and 118 and closes contacts 162. Closure ofcontacts 162 completes an energizing circuit for the solenoid 122 whichwill be recalled as being the control solenoid for admitting air intothe line 33; thus conditioning the distributor for movement toward theleft.

As the distributor 24 moves toward the right, the switch 55 (Figs. 2 and5) is operated to engage a .contact 164 thereby completing a circuit toa relay 166 that functions to open contacts 134 and to close contacts167. Closure of contacts 167 completes a locking circuit through nowdrawn up contacts 168 for the relay 136 that was energized at the timethe counter 123 closed the contacts 124. It will be recalled that therelay 136 controls the closure of the contacts 137, which in effect,through the action of relay 138 in closing contacts 139 permits thecyclic energization of the thyratron 88 to apply current to the clutchcoil 81.

Upon closure of the contacts 153, by the energization of relay 149, arelay 171 (Fig. 6) is also energized to close contacts 172 (Fig. 7).inasmuch as the relay .166 (Fig. 5) is closed when the distributor 24moves into position to apply wire to the reel 36, contacts 173 are drawnup to complete a shunt circuit around the thyratron 88. Full output fromthe AC. source 85 is now applied to the clutch coil 81, and as a resultmaximum 6 torque is transmitted to the shaft 38 and reel 36. Thisacceleration of the reel permits the core thereof to rotate at 'a speedapproximately equal to or greater than the linear speed of the wirebeing advanced through the distributor.

Previously energized time delay relay 152 will now function to closecontacts 174 causing energization of a relay 176. Relay 176 openscontact 126 to deenergize relay 127 whereupon contacts 128, 129, 131 and132 are opened. The opening of contacts 128 interrupts the lockingcircuit for the relay 144 whereupon contacts 148 open to deenergize therelay 149 thereby permitting contacts 150, 151 and 153 to open. Theswitching circuit is now restored to the initial condition andconditioned for another switching operation to transfer the distributorback into position to guide wire onto an empty reel 34.

During the transfer of the distributor from the lefthand reel 34 to therighthand reel 36, the wire 10 will be first caught beneath a projection47 on the snagger plate 44, then stretched across the space interveningbetween the two snagger plates and then finally caught beneath aprojection 47 on the snagger plate 46. As the reels and snagger platescontinue to rotate, the wire between the snagger plates will be broughtinto position to be severed by the stationary knife 49.

When the distributor moves the switch 55 to the con tact 98, the relay106 is deenergized to effectuate an opening of contacts 108 whereuponthe relay 111 is deenergized. It will be recalled that relay 111controlled the contacts 113 (Fig. 7) thus eflectuating a deenergizationof the relay 114 to open contacts 116. It is now impossible to actuatethe thyratron 86, and as a result there is no transfer of energy to themagnetic coil 78 and as a result the lefthand reel comes to a stop. Ifdesired, a magnetic brake (not shown) could be associated with the'lefthand shaft 37 and controlled by the deenergization of the relay 111to rapidly bring the lefthand reel to a stop.

When .the distributor 24 moved into position to guide wire onto the reel36, the .switch 54 closed to energize a relay 183 that causes contacts180 to open thereby interrupting a previously established lockingcircuit for the relays 159 and 171 and the solenoid 156. The solenoid156 controlled the application of high pressure air to the line 32;manifestly, the distributor is brought to a stop in register with themid-section of the reel 36. With the distributor 24 now positioned tolay wire on the righthand reel 36, and recalling that the contacts 162had been closed to energize the solenoid 122 to open the air valveassociated with the line 36, the distributor will now move toward theleft distributing the wire back over the loose severed end of wire andthereby insuring that the wire is positively wrapped on the core of thereel 36. .As the distributor moves toward the left, the switch 52 isactuated to again energize the solenoid 119 to reverse the direction ofmovement of the distributor. When the actuator 51 operates the switch53, a relay 186 is energized to draw up contacts 190 to energize thesolenoid 122 which functions to admit air in line 33 to reverse thedirection of movement of the distributor 24.

When a predetermined amount of wire has been wound on the righthand reel36, the counter circuit 123 is again actuated to cause the contacts 124to close thereby completing the energizing circuit for the relay 127.Relay 127 again draws up contacts 128, 129, 131 and'132. However, withthe distributor distributing on the righthand reel, the switch 55engages contact 164 to energize relay 166; thus causing contacts 167 tobe drawn up, and contacts 1'34 open. Closure of contacts 131 thereforecompletes an energizing circuit through now closed contacts 181 and 182to-the relay 111. This relay also effectuates the closing of'thecontacts 113 to again permit energy to be transferred to the magneticclutch coil .78 whereupon the lefthand reel .34 is initiated intorotation. Energizationof relaylll closes contacts 185 (see Fig. 7)

to connect the output of the tachometer generator 41 to the controlcircuit'for the magnetic coil 78; as accuseof wire indicative of a fullyloaded reel 36, thecontacts.

143 are closed to energize the relay 144. This relay draws up contacts148. Inasmuch as the distributor is on the righthand section of thewinding device, the switch 54 is cyclically closed to energize the relay183 (Fig. 6) that cyclically closes contacts 184. It may be thusunderstood that the simultaneous closure of contacts 148 and 184 willagain efiectuate an energization of relay 149 to draw up contacts 150,151 and 153.

'As the distributor guideswire onto the reel 36, the switch 53 is closedto energize relay 186. This relay has timed contacts 187 that do notclose upon the initial energization of the relay, however, after a shortperiod of time, the relay 186 draws up contacts 187 to complete anenergizing circuit for relay 188 that locks in through contacts 189.Energization of relay 188'opens contacts 154 to preclude theenergization of the solenoid 156 which will be recalled as being thesolenoid for transferring the distributor from the lefthand reel 34 tothe righthand and with the closure of contacts 153, an energizingcircuit is completed through contacts 191 to a solenoid 192. Solenoid192 is associated with a valve in the intake line 33 and applies airunder considerable pressure to cause the piston 29 and the distributor24 to move toward the left and position the sheave 26 in position toguide wire on to the reel 34. Closure of contacts 153 is also effectiveto complete an energizing circuit through the now closed contacts 191and 161 to a relay 193 that functions to draw up contacts 194 tocomplete a locking.circuit for the solenoid 192. Energization of relay193 also draws up contacts 195 to energize the solenoid 119 thatfunctions to move the distributor 24 back toward the right when thedistributor .is positioned to guide wire onto the reel 34 and thesolenoid 192 is subsequently deenergized. In this manner the wire takenup by the reel 34 is laid back over the severed length of wireto insurethat the wire istightly gripped on the core of reel 34.

When thesolenoid 192 is energized a relay 197 connected in paralleltherewith is also energized, and as a result contacts 198 (Fig. 7) aredrawn up. As the distributor is moved into register with the lefthandreel 34, the switch 55 closes the contact 98 to again energize the relay106. Relay 106 draws up contacts 199 to complete a by-pass circuitaround the thyratron 86 and as a result the maximum amount of energy istransferred from the AC. source 80 to the magnetic clutch coil 78. Thecore of the lefthand reel 34 is now accelerated to a peripheral speedthatequals or'slightly exceeds that of the linear speed of the wire 10.I

As the distributor 24 moves toward the left, the switch 541 is opened todeenergize the relay 183 whereupon contacts 184 are opened to drop outthe relay 149. Relay 149 opens contacts 150, 151 and 153 and as aresult, the timer relay 152 and the relay 159 are deenergized. De-

energization of the timer relay 152 effectuates opening.

of the contacts 174 to deenergize the. relay 176, whereafter thecontacts 126 are opened to deenergize the relay 127. Deenergization ofrelayf127 opens contacts 128,

129, 131and 132 to effectuate a restoration of the switchupon previouslyestablished locking circuits for relays 193 and 197 and solenoid 192 areinterrupted. The solenoid 192thereupon releases the valve applying highpressure air to line 33 and thenow energized solenoid 119 7 is effectiveto permit the passage of air through line 32. The distributor movestoward the right to lay convolutions of wire over the severed end of thewire '10. The circuit is now restored to'a condition preparatory to asubse quent operation upon, occurrence of the reel 34 beingfullywoundwith wire.

It is to be understood thatthe'above-described ar rangements of circuitsand construction of elemental parts aresimply illustrative of anapplication of the principles of the invention and many othermodifications may be made without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is: i

1'. In a winding apparatus for strand material, a pair of rotatingtakeup devices, means for distributing strand material onto a first ofsaid takeup devices, means for transferring the distributing means todistribute strand material onto the other of said takeup devices, andmeans operated by said transferring means during movement ofdistributing means todistribute strand material onto the other of saidtakeup devices for accelerating said other takeup device.

2. In a continuous takeup apparatus for wire, means for independentlysupporting a pair of reels in axial alignment, a pair of drive means forindependently driving said reels at the same peripheral speed, adistributor for guiding wire onto a first of said reels, switching meansfor moving said distributor to guide wire onto the second of said reels,and means actuated by said switching means during movement of saiddistributor to guide wire onto the second of said reels for acceleratingthe drive means associated with the second reel. a

3. In a continuous takeup apparatus for strand material, a pair ofreels, a distributor for guiding strand material onto said reels,switching rneans for transferring said distributor from one reel to theother, means for driving said reels at synchronous speeds,; meansactuated by a predetermined amount of strand material being guided ontoa reel foroperating said switching means to move the distributor toguide the strand material ontothe other reel, and means actuated by saidswitching means moving the distributor to guide the strand material ontothe other reel for accelerating said other reel.

4. In a continuously operating reeling machine, means for supportingflanged reels having cores upon which wire 'is to be wound, meansincluding a magnetic clutch for driving a first of said reels, means fordistributing wire on the core of the driven reel, means actuated by apredetermined amount of wire being wound for transferring thedistributing meansto a second of said reels, means including a magneticclutch for initially driving said second reel at a speed equal to thatof'the first during the transfer, meansfor periodically energizing saidclutches to control the speeds of said reels, and means controlled bythe distributing means being transferred to the second reel forincreasing the periods of energization of the clutch associated with thesecond reel to accelerate said second reel. a .5. In an apparatus forcontinuously winding Wire, a

pair of supports for a pair of reels, means for driving a first of saidsupports, means for driving a second of said supports, means forrendering one of said drive means effective to impart rotation to thereel mounted on the associated support, a distributing means for guidingthe wire on said rotating reel, counter means actuated by the winding ofa predetermined amount of wire for operating the second driving means torotate the second reel at the same rate of speed as the first, meansactuated by thecounter means for shifting the distributing meansfrom thefirst reel to the second reel, and means actuated by said shifting meansduring the shifting of the distributing means from the first recite thesecond reel foraccelerating'said driving means for said second reel.

6.- An apparatus for'winding wire onto reels comprising a pair ofsupport means for holding a pair of reels, a first drive means includinga magnetic clutch for driving a first of said support means, a seconddrive means including a magnetic clutch for driving a second of saidsupport means, a control circuit for periodically energizing saidmagnetic clutches to operate at the same speed, a distributor forguiding wire onto said reels, switching means for selectivelypositioning said distributor to guide Wire onto said reels, meansactuated by a predetermined amount of wire guided onto a first reel foractuating said switching means to position the distributor to guide wireonto the second reel, and means actuated by the switching means forincreasing the periods of energization of said magnetic clutchassociated with the second reel.

7. In a continuous takeup apparatus for strand material, a pair ofreels, a distributor means for guiding strand material onto a first ofsaid reels, switching means for transferring said distributor from saidfirst reel to the second reel, a drive means including a magnetic clutchfor driving the first of said reels, a drive means including a magneticclutch for driving the second of said reels, a control circuit forperiodically energizing said magnetic clutches to drive both reels atthe same speed, means actuated by a predetermined amount of strandmaterial guided onto the first reel for operating said switching means,and means actuated by said switching means for increasing the periodicenergization of said magnetic clutch associated with the second reel toaccelerate said second reel.

8. A takeup apparatus for strand material which comprises a pair ofsupports for a pair of reels, a pair of.

drive means for said supports, magnetic clutch means interconnectingeach of said drive means with one of said supports, a first controlcircuit including an electronic tube for energizing the magnetic clutchassociated with a first of said reels, a second control circuitincluding an electronic tube for energizing the magnetic clutchassociated with the second of said reels, means for periodicallyenergizing said tubes to drive the reels at the same rate of speed, adistributor for guiding strand material onto said reels, switching meansfor moving said distributor to guide strand material onto one of saidreels,

normally open shunt circuits connected around each tube, and meansactuated by the switching means for closing the shunt circuit associatedwith the reel to which the distributor is moved to guide strand materialonto.

9. A takeup apparatus for strand material as defined in claim 8including means for opening the shunt circuit.

10. In a winding apparatus for strand material, a pair of takeupdevices, a first drive means including a first magnetic clutch fordriving a first of said takeup devices, a second drive means including asecond magnetic clutch for driving the second of said takeup devices,means for periodically energizing said first magnetic clutch at a firstpredetermined rate, means for guiding strand material onto said firsttakeup device, means actuated by the takeup of a first predeterminedamount of strand material for periodically energizing the secondmagnetic clutch at said predetermined rate, means actuated by the takeupof a second predetermined amount of strand material for transferring theguide means to guide the strand material onto the second takeup device,and means operated by the transfer means for increasing the periodicenergization of the second magnetic clutch.

11. In a continuous Winding apparatus, a pair of takeup devices, meansfor distributing strand material onto a first of said takeup devices, afirst magnetic clutch means for driving a first of said takeup devices,means for cyclically energizing said first magnetic clutch to drive thefirst takeup device, a second magnetic clutch means for driving a secondof said takeup devices, means actuated by the takeup of a predeterminedamount of strand material for cyclically energizing said second magneticclutch to drive said second takeup device, means actuated by a furthertakeup of a predetermined amount of strand material for moving saiddistributing means to distribute material on the second takeup device,and means operated by the distributor moving means for increasing thecyclic rate to drive the second takeup device at a greater rate of speedthan the first takeup device.

12. In a winding apparatus for strand material, a pair of takeupdevices, a first drive means including a first magnetic clutch fordriving a first of said takeup devices, a second drive means including asecond magnetic clutch for driving the second of said takeup devices,means for energizing said first magnetic clutch to drive said firsttakeup device, normally unoperated means adapted to energize said secondmagnetic clutch, a distributor for guiding strand material onto saidfirst takeup device, means actuated by the strand material guided ontothe first takeup device for operating said normally unoperated means toenergize said second magnetic clutch, control means interconnecting saidboth energizing means for maintaining the speed of said takeup devicesconstant, means for transferring said distributor to guide wire onto asecond takeup device, means operated by said transferring means guidingwire onto the second takeup device for accelerating said second takeupdevice, and means actuated by said transferring means for deenergizingthe first magnetic clutch.

13. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a pair of shafts for receivingreels to be wound with wire, first drive means for rotating the first ofsaid shafts, a first control circuit including a tube for operating thefirst drive means, means for periodically operating said tube toregulate the speed of said first drive means, a second drive means forrotating the second of said shafts, a second control circuit including atube for operating the second drive means, means for periodicallyoperating said .tube to regulate the speed of said second drive means, adistributor for laying wire on the reels mounted on said shafts, meansresponsive to the laying of a predetermined length of wire on a reel forshifting the distributor from one reel to the other, and a controlcircuit operated by said shifting means for increasing the period ofoperation of the tube in the circuit associated with a reel to which thedistributor transfers the laying of the wire.

14. An automatic wire takeup apparatus, comprising a pair of rotatablymounted takeup devices, a first drive means, means for connecting saidfirst drive means to rotate a first of said takeup devices, adistributor for laying wire onto the rotating takeup device, means forreciprocating said distributor means, a second drive means, meansnormally unoperated for connecting the second drive means to rotate thesecond takeup device, means operated by the laying of a predeterminedamount of wire on the first takeup device for operating said means toconnect the second drive means to the second takeup device, meansoperated by the further laying of a predetermined amount of wire on thefirst takeup device for shifting the distributor toward the center ofthe second takeup device, means operated by the shifting means toaccelerate the second takeup device to rotate faster than the firsttakeup device, and means rendered efiective by the distributor beingadvanced to the center of the second takeup device to reverse thedirection of movement of the distributor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,255,935 Lewellen et al. Sept. 16, 1941 2,469,706 Winther May 10, 19492,508,150 Fennell May 16, 1950 2,733,869 Bunch Feb. 7, 1956 2,779,545Hauck et a1. Jan. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,699 Great Britain Mar.17, 1954

